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Oakland Protesters

This is perhaps the best response/question I have seen so far regarding the Oakland Mayor and the idiotic protesters in Oakland and elsewhere!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 1, 2011

An Open Letter to the Citizens of Oakland from the
Oakland Police Officers' Association

We represent the 645 police officers who work hard every day to protect the citizens of Oakland. We, too, are the 99% fighting for better working conditions, fair treatment and the ability to provide a living for our children and families. We are severely understaffed with many City beats remaining unprotected by police during the day and evening hours.

As your police officers, we are confused.

On Tuesday, October 25th, we were ordered by Mayor Quan to clear out the encampments at Frank Ogawa Plaza and to keep protesters out of the Plaza. We performed the job that the Mayor's Administration asked us to do, being fully aware that past protests in Oakland have resulted in rioting, violence and destruction of property.

Then, on Wednesday, October 26th, the Mayor allowed protesters back in  to camp out at the very place they were evacuated from the day before.

To add to the confusion, the Administration issued a memo on Friday, October 28th to all City workers in support of the "Stop Work" strike scheduled for Wednesday, giving all employees, except for police officers, permission to take the day off.

That's hundreds of City workers encouraged to take off work to participate in the protest against "the establishment." But aren't the Mayor and her Administration part of the establishment they are paying City employees to protest? Is it the City's intention to have City employees on both sides of a skirmish line?

It is all very confusing to us.

Meanwhile, a message has been sent to all police officers: Everyone, including those who have the day off, must show up for work on Wednesday. This is also being paid for by Oakland taxpayers. Last week's events alone cost Oakland taxpayers over $1 million.

The Mayor and her Administration are beefing up police presence for Wednesday's work strike they are encouraging and even "staffing," spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars for additional police presence  at a time when the Mayor is also asking Oakland residents to vote on an $80 parcel tax to bail out the City's failing finances.

All of these mixed messages are confusing.

We love Oakland and just want to do our jobs to protect Oakland residents. We respectfully ask the citizens of Oakland to join us in demanding that our City officials, including Mayor Quan, make sound decisions and take responsibility for these decisions. Oakland is struggling  we need real leaders NOW who will step up and lead  not send mixed messages. Thank you for listening.

Comments (12)

Like this comment

Posted by Steve
a resident of Parkside
on Nov 1, 2011 at 9:51 am

Oakland used to be a nice city, back in the sixties. It's been on a downhill slide ever since........such a shame.

Posted by Alameda County taxpayer
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 1, 2011 at 12:32 pm

The public unions hyjacked the Oakland Occupy and called for (what else?) a strike....'USING" the occupy to pump lies into them. It's over. Every taxpayer in Oakland who doesn't want to foot the bill of public unions, plus paying them to do their jobs...should strike ! Of course, as an Alameda County taxpayer, I'll follow that I don't get stuck with a single cent. The 'message' is over, hyjacked by public union thugs and strikers. It's over. Final nail after the jerk Michael Moore was there last week...The message of college kids was trampled by these intruding xxxxx.
I don't intend to pay overtime for Pleasanton cops or Alameda to cover these costs. It's been ruined. Stop it now.

Posted by Slim Jim
a resident of Canyon Oaks
on Nov 1, 2011 at 1:56 pm

Forgot to mention Acorn, didn't you? What other dimwitted things will you have to say today, I wonder. Nothing will surprise. Just a mean old man, unable to engage the issues, instead resorts to a nastiness which comes from a failed life.

I say let them riot. I'm a police officer who had to go to Oakland twice because of the Occupiers. So far Ive been paid for 30 hours of overtime so I say let them riot and occupy. Im glad Quan is an idiot that will ensure OT for me and other first responders.

West Oakland was the best pre-1955. Women could walk the streets at night without being afraid. The best area for kids to play in the streets - neighbors helped neighbors. Neighbors knew neighbors. Renters and owners alike took pride in their property. There were movie theatres, museums, libraries, catholic and public schools. Parks and playgrounds. Many great athletes came out of West Oakland (not East Oakland). There were streetcars and trains. Bars and restaurants that knew who everyone was. Police officers who watched over the neighborhoods - they were our friends. Political intervention ruined West Oakland - nothing else. With the right direction West Oakland can once again thrive. Just bring back pre-1955.

Sorry if I embarrassed you Slim. It stinks being shown up in public, eh? Try harder next time. I can only assume you approve of acorns bigoted and illegal tactics. So, where in your spiteful rant directed at me did you address the issue in the story? Your sniping is only effective if you hit your target.

Posted by Slim Jim
a resident of Canyon Oaks
on Nov 2, 2011 at 12:13 pm

I can tell you honestly that Ann Coulter wannabe Michelle Malkin doesn't have a clue and never has had a clue.

Who published her book? Creators Syndicate? Wow, I bet that one went through a rigorous review process before it was published. It always amuses me that with hundreds of bona fide book publishers out there, a hack like Malkin has to admit none will publish her slop and goes with Creators Syndicate. Next step: Koch bros will buy up tens of thousands of copies, giving it a bump in sales ratings, and send to soft-headed right wingers like Jimbo the liar, dave the birdland parrot, and steve the village idiot.

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